Joint assembly for striking tool

ABSTRACT

This tool, notably in the case of an ice ax comprising a tool head formed with a depending shank and a metal tubular handle of substantially elliptic or oval cross-sectional configuration receiving said shank in its upper portion, comprises between said shank and said tubular handle upper portion a pair of half sockets associated with a wedge member; driving this wedge member between one of said half-sockets and the shank permits of locking the assembly, this locking action being reinforced by two rivets axially spaced along the handle axis and extending at right angles to each other.

United States Patent Simond JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR STRIKING TOOL [76] Inventor: Ludger Simond, Les Bossons.

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France [22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 368,705

[52] US. Cl. 403/374, 403/409 [51] Int. Cl. B25g 3/28 [58] Field of Search 403/248, 250, 290, 297,

403/344, 358, 369, 371, 374, 409, 110, 368, 370; 145/29 B, 29 R, 61 H, 61 M; 125/40,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 630,176 8/1899 Brown 403/370 1,412,235 4/1922 Felix 403/370 3,287,040 11/1966 Verticchio 403/368 [451 Sept. 10, 1974 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Conrad L. Berman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno 57 ABSTRACT 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR STRIKING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to striking tools and has specific reference to tools called ice-axes or piolets, of the type used by mountaineers for cutting steps in the ice, which are manufactured in various sizes and shapes; more particularly, this invention is directed to tools of this general type but wherein the handle consists of a tube having the tool head secured to one end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART To facilitate the understanding of the present invention, a preferred form of embodiment thereof will be described presently, in the case of an ice-ax. but this application should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention since various other striking tools can be construed according to the same basic principles.

Therefore, considering the specific case of ice axes having a tubular metal handle or stick, it is customary to secure the tool head to the handle by fitting a depending shank formed integrally with this head into the tubular handle and crimping the corresponding portion of the handle thereon. In addition to the poor aesthetic appearance of the assembly thus obtained, this mounting procedure is difficult to carry outzfor in most distances the shank of the ice ax head and the handle have very different dimensions; in fact, it is required on the one hand that the shank be relatively slender in order to minimize the weight of the ice ax and on the other hand that the tubular handle have a cross-sectional dimension sufficient to permit a propergripping thereof.

Various attempts have been made with a viewto improve this assembling method, for example byinterposing between the head shank and the tubular handle a socket consisting generally of aluminum orlight alloy, having an internal configuration matching that of said shankand an external configuration matching that of the inner cavity of the handle. This assembly, although constituting an improvement over the one mentioned hereinabove, is attended however by the followinginconveniences:

when imparting to the socket an internal shape corre sponding to that of said shank, due consideration must be given to the tolerances existing in the shank dimensions, and

similarly, the internal shape of the socket must be designed with due consideration for "the manufacturing tolerances of the tubular handle; almost inevitably the assembly comprising these three members: the shank, the socket and the tubular handle has a play or clearance resulting fromthe manufacturing tolerances of each member.

Of course, attempts have been made to take up this play or these clearances by using rivets or the like for interconnecting these three members, butthe only result thus achieved is a local clamping action having little or no influence on the plays existing in a direction perpendicular to each rivet or like fastening member, which plays are due to the machining, with tolerances, of said three members, i.e., the shank, the socket and the tubular handle.

Now in ice axes as well as in all striking tools these clearances will only increase in actual service. Therefore, the tool deteriorates rapidly, the existing plays increase and finally make the use of an ice ax not only difficult but sometimes impossible, and may even jeopardizing the users life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to avoid the inconveniences of striking tools of the type broadly defined hereinabove, notably ice axes, by providing a striking tool, more particularly and preferably an ice ax, of the tubular-handle type, characterised by an improved mounting of the tool head in the tubular handle, which comprises a pair of complementary half-sockets associated with a wedge member, these three elements, namely the pair of half-sockets and the wedge member, being interposed between the upper portion of the tubular handle and the depending shank of the tool head, whereby driving the wedge member towards said head will cause the expansion of said half-sockets and thus safely lock the assembly comprising said head shank, half-sockets and wedge member within the tubular handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A clearer understanding of this invention and of the advantageous features characterising same will be had as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of this invention. In the drawing:

FIG. I is a fragmentary side-elevational view showing the upper portion of the handle and the central portion of the head of an ice ax constructed according to the teachings of this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 3' and 3-3 of FIG. 1, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2,and

FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of one of the halfsockets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT clamping the corresponding handle portion against the shank but indirectly by means of complementary elements, namely a pair of symmetrical half-sockets 4a, 4b and a wedge member 5.

Each half-socket 4a, 4b has the configuration illustrated in the drawing, and the shape and dimensions of the cross-section of said shank 3 are such that a space actually permitting the insertion of the wedge member 5 is left between this shank 3 and the half-sockets 4a and 4b.

Thus, by engaging and subsequently force-fitting or driving this wedge member 5 into said space, the pair of opposite and symmetrical half-sockets4a and 4b are firmly pressed against the inner wall of the tubular handle .2, said wedge member 5 bearing on the one hand against the oblique face of shank 3 and on the other hand against the inner surfaces of the pair of halfsockets 4a, 4b.

The wedge member 5, by bearing against the shank 3 of head 1, will thus act as an expansion element by locking the two half-sockets 4a, 4!) within the tubular handle 2 and therefore the shank 3 of the tool head 1 in the chamber formed between these half-sockets 4a, 4b and said wedge member 5.

in order definitely to lock the assembly comprising the shank 3 of head 1, wedge member 5, half sockets 4a, 4b and tubular handle 2, a pair of spaced rivets disposed at right angles to each other, as shown at 6 and 7, respectively are provided. One rivet 6 locks the wedge member in relation to the shank 3, the half sockets 4a, 4b and the tubular handle 2, and extends along the major axis of the ellipse constituting the cross-sectional configuration of the handle. The other rivet 7 disposed as already mentioned hereinabove at right angles to the first rivet 6 extends through the head shank 3, across the pair of half-sockets 4a, 4b and the handle 2, to complete and reinforce the locking action exerted on the assembly.

The assembling is completed of course by locking in position the wedge member 5 by striking this member from the lower or opposite end of the handle 2, Le, before this end has been provided with its conventional spiked butt. From a practical point of view it is advantageous'to adhere to the following procedure: the assembly comprising the shank 3 of head 1, the pair of half-sockets 4a, 4b and the wedge member 5 is introduced (without locking the latter) into the upper end of the tubular handle 2 until the shoulder of said sockets engage the upper edge of the handle; the assembly is maintained by artificial means such as adhesive, cement or the like; then, the only step required consists in driving home the wedge member 5. To this end, the tubular handle 2 carrying the head 3, l, the pair of halfsockets 4a, 4b and the wedge member 5 is placed upon a rivet-snap or die, and by exerting a pressure of the head 1 of the ice ax the desired fit of the wedge member 5 is obtained, thus locking the component elements into a unitary block. The final locking action is achieved by inserting and upsetting the rivets 6 and 7, in this order,

An ice ax constructed according to the teachings of this invention is characterised inter alia by the following advantageous features the presence of a metal handle is advantageous on account of its light weight and mechanicalstrength, more particularly its resistance to shocks and flexion stress;

as the tubular handle is secured to the head of the ice ax from within, instead of from outside, the final appearance of the ice ax is improved considerably;

instead of locating the fastening means at one or two points, they are distributed throughout the internal surface of the tubular handle, thus improving considerably the efficiency of the assembling means, the presence of a pair of complementary rivets definitely precluding any accidental loosening;

the presence of a wedge member 5 permits of taking up any play likely to exist initially between the shank 3 and half-sockets 4a, 4b, on the one hand, and the handle, on the other hand, so that the various parts can be manufactured without imposing very accurate machining or manufacturing tolerances.

Of course, and as already mentioned hereinabove, this invention should not be construed as being strictly limited by the specific form of embodiment described and illustrated herein, since various applications, modifications and variations, as may readily occur to those conversant with the art, may be contemplated without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Thus, notably, instead of ice axes, the present invention may apply to any other striking tools such as hammers, etc...

What I claim as new is:

l. A striking tool, notably an ice ax of the type having a tubular metal handle, a tool head being fitted at the top of said tubular metal handle, said tool head comprising a depending shank formed as a single piece construction with said tool head, a tapered wedge member and a pair of complementary half-sockets surrounding said wedge member, said wedge member and halfsockets being interposed between said shank and the upper portion of said tubular handle, the wedge member tapering inwardly in a direction toward said tool head, said half-sockets and wedge member being located inside said upper, portion of the tubular handle adjacent said tool head, whereby when said wedge member is driven upwardly towards said tool head, said wedge member will expand said half-sockets and lock the assembly with said shank.

2. A striking tool as set forth in claim 1, including a first aperture formed in and extending through said tubular handle portion, said pair of half-sockets and said tool head shank, a second aperture formed in and extending through said tubular handle portion, said pair of half sockets and said wedge member, said apertures being disposed in planes perpendicular to each other and at different levels along said tubular handle, and further locking means for locking said assembly together including upset rivets received in said apertures. l i 

1. A striking tool, notably an ice ax of the type having a tubular metal handle, a tool head being fitted at the top of said tubular metal handle, said tool head comprising a depending shank formed as a single piece construction with said tool head, a tapered wedge member and a pair of complementary half-sockets surrounding said wedge member, said wedge member and half-sockets being interposed between said shank and the upper portion of said tubular handle, the wedge member tapering inwardly in a direction toward said tool head, said half-sockets and wedge member being located inside said upper portion of the tubular handle adjacent said tool head, whereby when said wedge member is driven upwardly towArds said tool head, said wedge member will expand said halfsockets and lock the assembly with said shank.
 2. A striking tool as set forth in claim 1, including a first aperture formed in and extending through said tubular handle portion, said pair of half-sockets and said tool head shank, a second aperture formed in and extending through said tubular handle portion, said pair of half sockets and said wedge member, said apertures being disposed in planes perpendicular to each other and at different levels along said tubular handle, and further locking means for locking said assembly together including upset rivets received in said apertures. 